This morning, in the Deep Dish's daily TV schedule listing, we described the Illinois-UIC game this way:
↵↵1 p.m., Big Ten Network: College basketball, No. 14 Illinois vs. UIC at the United Center. This one isn't even fair -- a ranked team facing its instate namesake, who is 4-7. The Illini should win by 30.↵↵
Um, not even close. The game, played in front of 13,117 at the United Center as part of a college/pro doubleheader -- the Bulls tip off in a couple of hours -- was basically UIC's all the way; the game was tied at halftime and the Flames had a 10-2 run at the beginning of the second half. The Illini managed to take the lead by eight with 7:30 to go, but the Flames' zone defense had Illinois in knots all game, and they held the Illini to 32.1% shooting from the floor. Meanwhile, UIC shot 46.5% for the game and 46.7% from three-point land and upset the No. 14 Illini 57-54, one of the biggest wins in UIC history, especially with an 8-22 record last year and 4-7 this year before today.
↵↵The Deep Dish won't take any of these games for granted in the future. Maybe.